Comprising Variable Resistance Means Patents (Class 219/504)
  • Patent number: 11264789
    Abstract: An over-current protection device includes first and second electrodes and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) multilayered structure disposed between the first and second electrodes. The PTC multilayered structure includes a first polymer layer that is bonded to the first electrode, an intermediate layered unit that is bonded to said first polymer layer and that includes a second polymer layer, a third polymer layer that is bonded to and disposed between the intermediate layered unit and the second electrode. The first, second and third polymer layers respectively have first, second and third volume resistances, the second volume resistance being higher than the first and third volume resistances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Fuzetec Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jack Jih-Sang Chen, Chang-Hung Jiang
  • Patent number: 10636630
    Abstract: A processing chamber and a processing method for processing a substrate in the processing chamber with thermal control are described herein. The method includes heating a first substrate using a heater apparatus during a first processing operation. The heater apparatus has a first setpoint during at least a first portion of the first processing operation. The first substrate is disposed on a substrate support surface of an electrostatic chuck in a processing chamber. The method further includes determining a first parameter change corresponding to a resistivity change in the electrostatic chuck, determining a second setpoint for the heater apparatus based on the first parameter change, and controlling the heater apparatus to the second setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Hemant P. Mungekar, Ganesh Balasubramanian, Yoichi Suzuki, Abdul Aziz Khaja
  • Patent number: 10492342
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a rear end and a front end of a first group of fins respectively defining an air inlet and an air outlet of the first group, a rear end and a front end of a second group of fins respectively defining an air outlet and an air inlet of the second group, means adapted to generate a flow of air between the plurality of fins of the first group from the air inlet to the air outlet of the first group at least one air deflector arranged facing the air outlet of the first group and configured to orient the flow of air toward the air inlet of the second group so that the flow of air is able to flow between the fins of the second group from the air inlet to the air outlet of the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Jakub Korta, Marcel Fruend, Pawel Skruch
  • Patent number: 10429099
    Abstract: An electric heating device has several PTC heating elements that are arranged in a circulation chamber. The electric heating device includes a heating element casing which fits as a structural unit at least one PTC element and contact plates that energize said PTC element and form contact strips for an electrical plug connection. A partition wall separates the circulation chamber from a connection chamber in which the contact strips of the PTC heating element penetrating the partition wall are exposed and are electrically connected. A plug connection is formed between the partition wall and the PTC heating element and via which the PTC heating element is held in a frictionally engaged and/or in positive fit manner on the partition wall in the direction of insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ebserspacher Catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Andreas Schwarzer
  • Patent number: 10420173
    Abstract: A control system for controlling an operation of a resistive heater includes a dielectric parameter determination module for determining a dielectric parameter of the resistive heater when the resistive heater is in an active mode, and a diagnostic module for diagnosing performance of the resistive heater based on the dielectric parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mohammad Nosrati, Roger Brummell, Timothy Tompkins
  • Patent number: 10375767
    Abstract: A self-regulating heater cable includes a PTC core formed of positive temperature coefficient material and disposed in electrical contact with at least two bus wires. The PTC core may encapsulate the bus wires and space the bus wires apart a predetermined distance via a connecting portion of the PTC core. The connecting portion has a tapered profile, and is thinner at the ends approximate the bus wires and thicker in a portion between the ends, which portion may be toward or at the center of the connecting portion. The thicknesses of the ends and the thicker portion are selected to produce a ratio that is within a range at which the heater cable produces heat at its outer surface with a substantially uniform profile, and primary heat generation of the heater cable has not shifted from the center of the connecting portion to the ends of the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: nVent Services GmbH
    Inventors: Mohammad Kazemi, Linda D. B. Kiss, Sirarpi Jenkins
  • Patent number: 10362639
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an induction cooker (100) having an induction element (104) for heating a cooking vessel (106) containing a food substance. The induction cooker (100) also has a temperature sensor (120) for measuring a temperature of the cooking vessel (106) or food substance. A memory is also includes having stored therein a cooking sequence. The cooking sequence includes sequential stages, each stage being defined by a set temperature to be reached by the cooking vessel (106) or food substance, a set maximum power applied to the induction element (104) during heating and a time associated with the stage. A controller is included for retrieving the cooking sequence and controlling the induction element (104) based upon the cooking sequence and the temperature measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: BREVILLE PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: David Davenport, Ellaluna Taylor, Vyvyan Rose, Catherine Mary Ruspino, Richard Lehonde Hoare, Brendan Foxlee
  • Patent number: 9879583
    Abstract: A fluid container for a motor vehicle, said container having a container wall which is made out of a plastic material and is provided with at least one metal resistance heating element. According to the invention the container wall is provided with at least one PPTC element as protection against overheating, said PPTC element being connected in series with the at least one heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: EICHENAUER HEIZELEMENTE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Carsten Hafner, Alexander Schmid
  • Patent number: 9704623
    Abstract: A micro-resistor includes a resistor material layer, an electrode set and a first protective layer. The electrode set includes a first electrode and a second electrode to define an opening which exposes the resistor material layer. A space between the first electrode and the second electrode represents an opening size. The first protective layer covers the opening completely and has a coverage size along a direction parallel with the space. The micro-resistor has a resistance of less than 5 milliohm and the difference of the opening size and the coverage size is less than 3100 micrometer to make the temperature coefficient of electrical resistance of the micro-resistor not greater than 150 ppm/° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: CYNTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huang-Chou Chen, Ta-Wen Lo, Chun-Cheng Yao
  • Patent number: 9302563
    Abstract: An electric heater for an automobile vehicle, with an electronic controller and a heat transmitting net, whereby the heat transmitting net contains a multitude of PTC-heating elements, a multitude of contact sheets and heat dissipating fins, whereby the PTC-heating elements are respectively arranged between two adjacent contact sheets and form a heating element with the contact sheets whereby some of the contact sheets are connected to connectors, which are arranged at the electronic controller and are connected to either a positive pole of a power supply or a negative pole of a power supply and are arranged in an alternating order, whereby the quantity of connectors that are connected to a positive pole of a power supply and the quantity of connectors that are connected to a negative pole of a power supply differs by one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Gries
  • Patent number: 9296276
    Abstract: An electric heater for an automobile vehicle, with an electronic controller and a heat transmitting net, whereby the heat transmitting net contains a multitude of PTC-heating elements, a multitude of contact sheets, a multitude of heat dissipating fins and a multitude of distance elements. At least one PTC-heating element and at least one distance element is arranged between two adjacent contact sheets, whereby the PTC-heating elements and the distance elements between the adjacent contact sheets and the adjacent contact sheets themselves form a heating element, whereby the heating elements are connected to the electronic controller through connectors, which are arranged at the electronic controller and are connected to a power supply, whereby the heat transmitting net is divided in a first area, which contains only distance elements, and a second area, which contains PTC-heating elements and/or distance elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Gries
  • Patent number: 9259991
    Abstract: In the heating device, PTC heating elements arranged between current rails lying opposite each other are used, which are fed with supply current from a control electronics unit via the current rails. Metallic heating rib structures are respectively coupled to one of the current rails via an electrically insulating but thermally conducting coupling layer. The air to be heated flows through the heating rib structures which have an undulating shape. The metallic heating rib structures are electrically connected to vehicle ground and thus form a shield that eliminates emissions of electromagnetic interfering radiation without impeding the flow of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: VALEO KLIMASYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Freund, Hans-Joachim Lilge, Johannes Molitor, Markus Hermann, Marian Mazurek, Martin Aidam
  • Publication number: 20150076133
    Abstract: In a heating-medium heating unit equipped with a first heating-medium circulation box and a second heating-medium circulation box which are in close contact with both surfaces of a PTC heater, in which heating-medium circulation passages are formed in the interior, and which are joined to each other in a liquidtight manner, wherein joining surfaces are sealed with liquid gaskets, the heating-medium circulation passages are provided with joining-surface cooling channels that cool the joining surface which is sealed with a liquid gasket and on which the heat from the PTC heater acts. The joining-surface cooling channels are provided at positions closer to the joining surface than to the PTC heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Adachi, Nobuya Nakagawa, Shiro Matsubara, Naoto Kunieda
  • Patent number: 8952299
    Abstract: A dual resistance heater for a phase change material region is formed by depositing a resistive material. The heater material is then exposed to an implantation or plasma which increases the resistance of the surface of the heater material relative to the remainder of the heater material. As a result, the portion of the heater material approximate to the phase change material region is a highly effective heater because of its high resistance, but the bulk of the heater material is not as resistive and, thus, does not increase the voltage drop and the current usage of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yudong Kim, Ilya V Karpov, Charles C. Kuo, Greg Atwood, Maria Santina Marangon, Tyler A. Lowrey
  • Publication number: 20150028019
    Abstract: A warm-up apparatus for a vehicle including a system which charges a battery by using an external power supply is provided. The warm-up apparatus includes a heater for warming up, a current detector, a voltage detector and a resistance changer. The heater is mounted in the vehicle and produces heat by receiving electric power from the external power supply. The current detector detects an allowable current value of the external power supply. The voltage detector detects an output voltage value of the external power supply. The resistance changer changes an electric resistance value of the heater based on the allowable current value detected by the current detector and the output voltage value detected by the voltage detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Makoto KAMACHI
  • Publication number: 20150021309
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a steering wheel having a heating element and a fail-safety device using the same. The steering wheel having a heating element has a rim, a surface of which is coated with an electrically conductive heating element. The heating element includes a plurality of unit heating elements arranged in parallel, each of which includes a first unit line, each of two ends of which connect a positive power-applying terminal and a negative power-applying terminal together in series; a second unit line spaced apart from the first unit line, each of two ends of which connects the positive power-applying terminal and the negative power-applying terminal together in series; and a connection line for connecting the first and second unit lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Man Ho CHO
  • Patent number: 8909033
    Abstract: A method is provided for interconnecting a single electrical heating element of a hot water heater to first and second AC electrical power sources. Typically, these first and second AC electrical power sources include a utility provided electrical power source and a renewable power source that generates AC power from DC power. The method includes operating a controller that selectively connects and disconnects the first and second power sources. If sufficient electrical power is available from the renewable power source, the utility provided electrical power source may be disconnected to preferentially utilize renewable energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: David Kreutzman
  • Patent number: 8872075
    Abstract: A Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) assembly, in which protrusions are formed on opposite longitudinal edges of an electrode terminal, PTC elements are held between the protrusions and are in contact with the electrode terminal, an insulating member is attached to an outer surface of the electrode terminal, and a rod cover houses therein the electrode terminal, the PTC elements and the insulating member. A simple structure is realized, fabrication costs are reduced, and a hollow space inside the rod cover is minimized, leading to improved heat transfer efficiency from the PTC elements to the rod cover, reduced noise and a slim structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Modine Korea, LLC.
    Inventors: Man Ju Oh, Duck Chae Jun, Tae Soo Sung
  • Publication number: 20140291314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a glow plug control device comprising a power transistor for switching the heating current on and off, a control unit for controlling the power transistor, a measuring resistor connected in series with the power transistor for measuring the intensity of a heating current, and a circuit board, which carries the power transistor, the control unit and the measuring resistor. The measuring resistor is connected to the circuit board via pins which are pressed into circuit board holes and which are made of an alloy that has a copper content of at least 80% by weight and a nickel content from 4 to 12% by weight. This disclosure also relates to the use of an alloy having a copper content of at least 80% by weight and a nickel content from 4 to 12% by weight for a pin of a press-in connection in a glow plug control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Bernd Halbrock, Michael Störzinger
  • Publication number: 20140263279
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal control system for controlling the temperature of a fluid. In particular, the invention relates to a control system having at least two heating elements, at least one of which is used for directly or indirectly heating a fluid, and at least one of which is used for heating a thermal probe used to determine the temperature of the fluid. The heating systems are controlled by at least one feedback controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Abbott Point of Care Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Vandersleen, Sergey Gershtein, Mitchell Tilson, Jaymin Patel, Craig H. Schneider, Seth Hunter, Paul Wasserman, Pierre Emeric
  • Publication number: 20140197154
    Abstract: Electrical resistance of a heated component is determined for temperature control and monitoring. A voltage-representation signal, which is proportional to a voltage across a heater component, is received. A magnified voltage-representation signal is generated by determining a difference between a voltage baseline offset, which represents a minimum operating voltage of the heater component, and the voltage-representation signal. A current-representation signal, which is proportional to an electrical current passing through the heater component is received. A magnified current-representation signal is generated by determining a difference between a current baseline offset, which represents a minimum operating current of the heater component, and the current-representation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventor: Perry Robert Czimmek
  • Patent number: 8712227
    Abstract: Fluid conduit segments are provided that include, but are not limited to integrated heating systems for protection against freezing. To this effect PTC-fabric heating elements are provided that are integrated in the fluid conduit segments and that in the negative temperature range include, but are not limited to a PTC-temperature-dependent resistance. The heating system thus provides a higher output in the negative temperature range and a lower output in the positive temperature range, i.e., the heating limits itself until temperature equalization has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Meisiek, Torsten Maulitz
  • Patent number: 8680435
    Abstract: An electrical heating device includes a flat heating block, which is held in a housing forming oppositely situated frame openings and which comprises parallel layers of heat dissipating and heat generating elements. The heat generating elements on the face side have fitting elements projecting beyond the heating block, and fitting element receptacles assigned to these fitting elements are formed on the housing. The fitting elements and the assigned fitting element receptacles of different heat generating elements are formed such that the heat generating elements cannot be inserted at just any random place in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Niederer, Michael Zeyen, Rainer Wuenstel, Detlef Stephan
  • Publication number: 20140069909
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an electronic heater and a method for controlling the same and relate to the field of power electronic technologies, so as to reduce a maintenance cost of a spare part of the electronic heater. The electronic heater includes: an auxiliary power supply unit, a control unit, a power adjusting unit, and a heating source. The auxiliary power supply unit is configured to supply power to the control unit; the control unit is configured to output a detection voltage signal according to an input voltage of the heating source, output a power control signal according to a preset reference power value, and transmit the detection voltage signal and the power control signal to the power adjusting unit; and the power adjusting unit is configured to obtain an output power adjustment signal according to the detection voltage signal and the power control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhanli Tang, Yake Fang
  • Patent number: 8637796
    Abstract: An electrical heating device includes at least one heat generating element and at least one heat emitting element having opposed surfaces that abut the heat generating element. The heat generating element includes at least one PTC heating element having strip conductors on both sides of it for the electrical supply of the PTC heating element At least one of the strip conductor is provided with at least one contact projection which protrudes beyond a PTC heating element locating face formed on the strip conductor. Also disclosed is a heat generating element having at least one strip conductor provided with at least one contact projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Eberspacher Catem GmbH & KG
    Inventor: Franz Bohlender
  • Patent number: 8614407
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for supplying current to a glow plug in a running diesel engine after reaching the operating temperature thereof by a series of current pulses, wherein a piston of the engine carries out a work cycle comprising several strokes and the glow plug is supplied with current as a function of the strokes of the work cycle such that the electric current supplied in each work cycle is mainly supplied at a predetermined, steady stroke of the piston, wherein control time intervals that follow each other are defined, during which up to two switching processes can be triggered by a control device, by which the glow plug can be connected to a voltage source for creating a current pulse or can be disconnected from the voltage source for ending a current pulse. According to the invention, the control time intervals have a duration that can be varied by the control device as a function of the rotational speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Kernwein, Peter Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8541720
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a temperature sensing apparatus includes a temperature sensor disposed in a structure at a first depth from a first surface of the structure. A heat flux sensor is also disposed in the structure at substantially the same depth as the first depth. A measurement circuit is coupled to the temperature sensor and the heat flux sensor. The measurement circuit calculates a surface temperature of the first surface based on a temperature of the temperature sensor and a heat flow of the heat flux sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Michael S. Schwerer
  • Patent number: 8530802
    Abstract: A ceramic heater includes a heating resistor including a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion which face each other and a ceramic base in which the heating resistor is embedded. The first conducting portion includes a first burr which extends from the first conducting portion and is located between the first conducting portion and the second conducting portion. The second conducting portion includes a second burr which extends from the second conducting portion and is located between the second conducting portion and the first conducting portion. At least a part of the first and second burrs is spaced apart from the line linking a starting point of the first burr and a starting point of the second burr in a cross-section perpendicular to a conduction direction of the first and second conducting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8481898
    Abstract: Systems and methods for PTC materials are described. In one example, a PTC constant wattage heater provides two or more self regulating heating modes. The PTC constant wattage heater may provide self regulating temperature and current control at lower expense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Parker
  • Patent number: 8431873
    Abstract: A vane type electric heater includes a heat generator and a vane structure, and the heat generator includes a rod, and the vane structure includes a plate and at least one heat pipe attached on a surface of the plate, and the plate includes a through hole for passing the rod, and the heat pipe surrounds the periphery of the through hole for enhancing the speed of thermal conduction and the effect of uniform temperature, so as to improve the heat output performance of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Chaun-Choung Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Cheng-Tu Wang, Meng-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 8395097
    Abstract: An electrical heating device, includes a housing in which at least one heat generating element with at least one PTC element and electrical strip conductors abutting oppositely situated lateral faces of the PTC element and a plurality of heat dissipating elements arranged in parallel layers are accommodated. The heat dissipating elements are held abutted on oppositely situated sides of the heat generating element, with the intermediate positioning of an electrical insulation. In order to be capable of improved high voltage operation, at least one conducting element electrically connects together a plurality of heat dissipating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Eberspacher catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Niederer, Holger Reiss
  • Patent number: 8395089
    Abstract: An electrical heating device, which includes a housing, in which at least one heat generating element with at least one PTC element and electrical strip conductors abutting oppositely situated lateral faces of the PTC element and a plurality of heat dissipating elements arranged in parallel layers are accommodated, which are held abutted on oppositely situated sides of the heat generating element. An electrical heating device according to the invention and which fulfils the practical requirements, in particular with high voltage operation in an improved manner has at least one heat dissipating element which is situated, with the intermediate positioning of an electrically insulating layer, on the assigned heat generating element and can be electrically connected to a ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Eberspacher catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Niederer, Holger Reiss
  • Patent number: 8330084
    Abstract: A temperature-control circuit of a heating line and a temperature-control method thereof are disclosed. The method comprises steps of: outputting a forward square-wave signal by a first forward square-wave signal generation circuit; outputting a reverse square-wave signal by a reverse square-wave signal generation circuit; and outputting a varied forward square-wave signal by a second forward square-wave signal generation circuit. Above square-wave signal generation circuits are respectively connected with an AND gate. When the input square-wave signals are simultaneously logic high, a switch is triggered by a trigger circuit to heat the heating wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventor: Ching-Chuan Wang
  • Patent number: 8319158
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an electric heating device, comprising a housing in which a heating block is held with the pretensioning force of at least one spring element located approximately at the same level as the heating block in its post assembly position and which defines opposite housing apertures between which the heating block is exposed, wherein the heating block is introduced into a housing part and the heating block is enclosed in the housing by another housing part. The spring element is brought into its assembled position and pretensioned when the housing is being closed to enclose the heating block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Niederer, Michael Zeyen, Rainer Wuenstel, Detlef Stephan
  • Patent number: 8269150
    Abstract: Disclosed is the electric heater including a base, and a heating unit having a plurality of unit heating elements disposed on a plate surface of the base and at least one of heating connection portions configured to heat and conductively connecting the unit heating elements to each other and non-heating connection portions configured not to heat and conductively connecting the unit heating elements to each other, thereby preventing a thermal stress concentration, thus to prevent damage to the heating unit and to enhance its output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Je-Hoon Kim, Hyoung-Jun Kim, Byeong-Wook Park
  • Patent number: 8253079
    Abstract: A temperature-control circuit of a heating line and a temperature-control method thereof are disclosed. The method comprises steps of: outputting a forward square-wave signal by a first forward square-wave signal generation circuit; outputting a reverse square-wave signal by a reverse square-wave signal generation circuit; and outputting a varied forward square-wave signal by a second forward square-wave signal generation circuit. Above square-wave signal generation circuits are respectively connected with an AND gate. When the input square-wave signals are simultaneously logic high, a switch is triggered by a trigger circuit to heat the heating wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Ching-Chuan Wang
  • Patent number: 8183504
    Abstract: A surface-mountable electrical circuit protection device includes layers defining a first PPTC resistive element, a second PPTC resistive element, and at least one heat-generating electrical component such as a planar zener diode chip positioned between, and in thermal contact with, the first and second PPTC elements, such that an electrical current above a threshold level passing through the component causes the component to heat, the heat being transferred to the PPTC resistive elements and tripping at least one, and preferably both of the first or second PPTC elements to a high resistance state. A series of edge-formed terminal electrodes enable surface-mount connection of the first and second PPTC elements and the electrical component to an electrical circuit substrate, such as a printed circuit board. A method for making the device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Montoya, Luis A. Navarro, Cecilia A. Walsh, Adrian P. Mikolajczak
  • Patent number: 8153938
    Abstract: The invention relates to an added electrical heater (1), especially for a heating system or air conditioner of a motor vehicle. A plurality of heating elements (2) are provided which are formed by PTC elements while being fitted with at least one electrically conducting coating (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignees: Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Behr France Rouffach SAS
    Inventors: Michel Brun, Geoffrey Denny, Gerard Eckerlen, Erwan Gogmos, Michael Kohl, Walter Kreuzer, Pascal Miss, Mathieu Mougey, Jürgen Otto, Christophe Schmittheisler
  • Patent number: 8136356
    Abstract: A resistance feedback circuit has a storage section which stores a feedback gain calculated in advance, a resistance value obtained from a detection section, and a time at which the resistance value is obtained. A computing section has a gain setting section which calculates an amount of change in a resistance value in a predetermined time from the resistance value and the time stored in the storage section, and calculates the feedback gain based on the change in the resistance value calculated, and replaces the feedback gain which is calculated in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Masaya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8084721
    Abstract: An electrical heating apparatus has: a fin brazed on at least one of a main body upper wall and a main body lower wall of a tube; an insertion unit having an electro-heat-generating element pressure-welded to a wall of one of the main body upper wall and the main body lower wall; and an edge part projecting in the width direction from each of main body vertical walls to form an edge space. The edge space is formed so as to be continuous with the insertion space and is smaller in thickness dimension than the thickness dimension of the insertion unit. The edge part has an edge part upper wall, an edge part lower wall, and an edge part vertical wall disposed in a concave shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Mori, Syotaro Abe
  • Patent number: 7977607
    Abstract: A frame for receiving a heating element for an electric heater of a ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning unit of a vehicle, in particular. The frame is shaped in the form of a hollowed-out box whose large faces, intended to be traversed by airflow conveyed by the unit, are held at a distance from each other in order to create between them a space for receiving the heating element. The frame is made of a single part in which means for holding the heating element inside the space are located in the area of the large faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Olivier Colette, Frederic Pierron
  • Patent number: 7977610
    Abstract: A device and a method for receiving ceramic heating elements (PTC elements, cold conductors) in a heating device, use an insulating frame and at least one contact plate held by the latter and on which the heating elements can be placed. The device is characterized in that the contact plate is frictionally held in the frame. The method is characterized in that at least on the contact plate side remote from the heating element reception side is moulded on or spread a layer of the following materials: plastic, polymer ceramic, ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Borgwarner Beru Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hamburger, Werner Faβbinder, Mike Riether
  • Patent number: 7884503
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for harmonic-wave suppression in AC voltage-operated PTC heaters, especially in frequency-stable and frequency-variable alternating-voltage networks in aerospace applications. The problem of harmonic-wave suppression for AC voltage-operated PTC heaters, in which the harmonic waves are suppressed by superimposing a correction current, which permits a simple and economical generation of the harmonic-wave suppression signal, is solved according to the invention by generating a correction current in a correction current circuit arranged parallel to the PTC heater using an ohmic resistor (4). The correction current is generated and additively superimposed exclusively for suppressing the third harmonic of the heating current of the PTC heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: ESW GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Seidler, Joerg Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 7880123
    Abstract: A dual resistance heater for a phase change material region is formed by depositing a resistive material. The heater material is then exposed to an implantation or plasma which increases the resistance of the surface of the heater material relative to the remainder of the heater material. As a result, the portion of the heater material approximate to the phase change material region is a highly effective heater because of its high resistance, but the bulk of the heater material is not as resistive and, thus, does not increase the voltage drop and the current usage of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: Yudong Kim, Ilya V. Karpov, Charles C. Kuo, Greg Atwood, Maria Santina Marangon, Tyler Lowrey
  • Patent number: 7868271
    Abstract: A control device for converting a control movement along a control path into a control signal has the control path corresponding to different control stages or control types. The control device has two measuring tracks with a linearly changing resistance associated with each track. In one embodiment, these measuring tracks are positioned concentric to each other in a semicircle. A voltage U, which is tapped via two opposite interconnected sliders, is applied to both measuring tracks at a junction point while the other junction point is connected to ground. If the detected values of the tapped voltages deviate from a corresponding stored value or pairs of values, there must be a fault, due to, for example a broken slider. This makes it possible to perform a test for determining the fault or a malfunctioning control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Alfred Hamm, Martin Baier, Ralf Dorwarth
  • Patent number: 7829822
    Abstract: An electric blanket has a woven web of warp and weft fibers. At least a portion of the warp fibers are electrically conductive. At least a portion of the weft fibers are electrically conductive and interweave with the electrically conductive warp fibers at a first area of the web. A power source in electrical communication with the web applies a voltage to the web that produces a wide area electrical distribution at the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Inotec Incorporated
    Inventor: Barry P. Keane
  • Patent number: 7627234
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device comprising a housing (15), through which air to be heated can pass and which delimits a heating space controlled by a power supply control circuit connected to a power source. The heating space includes electric heating modules (14), each heating module consisting of a first and second metal tape (10, 10) that are essentially parallel in a transversal direction (D) and of a positive temperature coefficient resistive elements (12) fixed between the two metal tapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Valeo Systems Thermiques S.A.S.
    Inventors: Frédéric Pierron, Christophe Marange, Gilbert Terranova, Olivier Colette
  • Patent number: 7560663
    Abstract: An electric heating module for heating air flow, in particular in vehicles, is provided by the invention having at least one PTC heating element 10 and at least one adjacent heat dissipating area 13, through which air can flow, with heat conducting ribs being in an effective contact to the PTC heating element 10 as well as the PTC heating element 10 and the heat conducting ribs 13, combined by a frame 1 to form a module. The invention is characterized in that the heat dissipating area is embodied circular, in particular round.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: MicroHellix GmbH
    Inventor: Ingo Schehr
  • Patent number: 7531255
    Abstract: A thermal treatment apparatus provided on a substrate includes a heat generating section the section includes a heat generating layer, a diffusion preventing layer which contacts one surface of the heat generating layer to prevent heat diffusion due to heat generation of the heat generating layer, and a cohering layer disposed between the substrate and the diffusion preventing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nomura, Osamu Nakamura, Tsutomu Terazaki, Keishi Takeyama
  • Patent number: 7473868
    Abstract: A system and method is presented for a fail-safe sensor for an HVAC system. The sensor comprises a temperature detector operable to measure a temperature of a component or a medium present at the sensor, a PTC heater operable to heat the sensor to a self-regulating temperature, the heater comprising a resistive element having an electrical impedance which increases with increasing temperature in accordance with a positive temperature coefficient characteristic, and a sensor housing comprising the PTC heater and the temperature detector provided within a single housing. An algorithm is provided for HVAC systems, wherein the sensor is heated to the self-regulating temperature by the PTC heater and is then measured by the temperature detector to confirm that the temperature detector is operating properly. Further, the sensor may be allowed to cool to a temperature of the surrounding medium or the component for sensing the temperature thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: R. W. Beckett Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Bohan, Jr., John P. Graham, Christopher A. Fildes